As she rounded the corner, she looked up from her downward gaze startled by a motion out of the corner of her eye. A man stood there, leaning with his back against the house, his knee bent upward with his foot against the wall. He looked as startled as shel. She did not recognize him, and overcome by a sudden rush of fear, she turned and began to move back towards the entry to the house.
"No, Madeline, don't," she heard a soft, masculine voice.
She stopped and froze, her hand shaking. He knew her name. She was afraid to turn around. Afraid she didn't know him. Afraid she did….or was supposed to.
When she did turn around, he had moved a few steps from the wall of the house and was looking at her anxiously. She took a deep breath and asked, "Are you Anthony?"